KR101547362B1 - Microporous filter with an antimicrobial source - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fluid filtration device having fluid passages between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet and an inlet and an outlet through a microporous filter having a pore size suitable for filtering microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses. To prevent biofilm formation in the microporous filter, the device comprises adding an antimicrobial source, preferably a halogen source, to the fluid in the defined fluid passageway between the fluid inlet and the microporous filter.

Microporous, pore, antimicrobial source, halogen

Description

[0001] MICROPOROUS FILTER WITH AN ANTIMICROBIAL SOURCE [0002]

The present invention relates to fluid filtration with fluid passages between the inlet and outlet through a microporous filter having a pore size suitable for filtering microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses, by fluid inlet and fluid outlet and mechanical particle size separation ≪ / RTI >

Typically, to remove microorganisms in drinking water, domestic water purifiers can be subjected to two methods: chemical inactivation or mechanical filtration.

In the case of chemical inactivation, halogenated media such as chlorine or iodine are generally used. For example, in a water purifier, when an iodine source is used, generally iodine and iodide are released from the resin to water to deactivate the microorganism within a relatively short contact time and residence time in the water flowing through the device do. Deactivation potency is the product of contact and residence time and concentration of the halogenated medium. Short contact-time and residence-time, high halogenated medium concentrations ensure that significant microbial deactivation is achieved. This high concentration of halogens in water absorbed by the consumer causes disturbances of taste and smell, and can lead to health hazards if used permanently. To avoid this negative effect, usually residual iodine and iodide are removed by iodine scavengers in the final treatment step before water is released to be consumed. Activated carbon, for example in granular form (GAC), is a commonly used scavenger, and activated carbon can be treated with silver or copper to increase the antimicrobial efficacy. Since iodine is a rather expensive substance, it is desirable to reduce iodine consumption.

On the other hand, no-halogen mechanical filters can be used for microbial purification by particle size separation. For example, ceramic filters are known in the art, where filters can be used to filter water without the addition of iodine or chlorine. For example, JP Ceramics Ltd and Fairey Industrial Ceramics Limited (FICL) companies offer ceramic filters commercially.

In the prior art, another system without water halogen treatment is disclosed. For example, international patent applications WO98 / 15342 and WO98 / 53901, assigned to Prime Water Systems, disclose a fluid filter having a hollow fiber / tube bundle with a micro-porous fiber wall through which the water to be treated flows. Microorganisms block flow through these walls due to the fine-filtration or ultrafiltration membrane properties of the microporous wall. Depending on the design of the housing, the collected microorganisms, inorganic nets, and corrosive acids can be flushed from the membrane surface to restore filtration performance if the filtrate builds up in a "filter-cake" and blocks pores in the membrane. Commercial hollow fiber membrane cartridges with a forward flush system are also available from Dutch companies IMT Membranes® and Filtrix®. The detergency and the functional restoring force of the membrane surface depend on the hydraulic power (flow rate) and the density of the filter cake. The most important for the shelf life of the membrane is the propagation of the biofilm in the upstream portion of the membrane, which is produced by mechanical separation but does not inactivate the microorganisms associated with the corrosive acid.

Other examples of halogen-free water filters are commercially available as products with the trade name Nanoceram®, which is disclosed in US Pat. No. 6,838,005 to Argonide and is registered by the company Argonide®. In this case, the alumina nanofibers are provided in a pore glass fiber matrix that filters the microorganisms by being attached to the nanofibers. Microorganisms and inorganic nets are attached by alumina with high positive charge and remain permanently, non-releasably, in the filter matrix. The shelf life of the filter depends on the contamination level of the influent and the filtration ability.

The advantage of a halogen-free filter is that it has a relatively long shelf life without recharging or exchanging the halogen source, avoiding the halogen taste and the health effects of the final, released water. However, there is a disadvantage in that a biofilm is formed inside the filter, which causes clogging of the pores and a risk of releasing a large amount of microorganisms from the biofilm if the membrane ruptures.
In order to prevent clogging of these micro-organism filters, countercurrent washing at high pressure is a commonly used method as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 6,589,426.
In Figure 11, a photograph of the reproduced device, i.e., a portable water rinse apparatus, is typically available by the company Milleniumpore (R). In this apparatus, the water tank 102 is connected to the lower portion of the filtration unit 106 via the hose 104. [ By manually activating the balloon, air is pumped to the tank producing pressure, which is sent from the tank 102 to the filtration unit 106 and out of the filtration unit 106 after the filtration action, Passes through the second hose 110 at the top 112 of the hose. The second hose 110 is connected to a rinse-water tank 114 where the water level in the rinse-water tank is greater than the connection 118 height by the third hose 116, Water is accumulated for charging through the outlet 116. If the filter in the filtration unit 106 is clogged, the rinse from the rinse-water tank 106 is filtered by the activation of the balloon 120 which produces pressure in the rinse-water tank 114 via the hose 110 Can be pressed by counterflow to the unit (106).
To prevent clogging, the prior art has proposed an antimicrobial supply in the upstream portion of the microporous filter, for example as disclosed in other water purification units with antimicrobials, and the killing effect is described in US Pat. No. 3,327,859, No. 4,769,143 by Lafe, No. 5,518,613 by Koczur and Garcia, No. 6,454,941 by Cutler et al., International Patent Application WO 94/27914 by Hughes, and European Patent Application EP 617951 by Shimizu et al.
EP 364 111 by Muramatsu et al also discloses a combination of a carbon filter for removing chlorine and a hollow fiber filter for removing microorganisms. In addition, the antibacterial means may be disposed between the filters to prevent the growth of microorganisms on the hollow fiber filters and otherwise cause premature clogging of the fiber filters. The antibacterial means is achieved by including an antimicrobial agent in the material of the hollow fibers or in the material of the hollow fibers, or by including an antimicrobial cloth between the fibers. Preferably, the antimicrobial agent is water-insoluble. As a further option, the municipal water with residual chlorine or other sterilizing agent partially bypasses the carbon filter to reach the hollow fibers.
Thus, two different methods have been used to prevent early clogging of microporous fibers, particularly hollow fiber filters, wherein one method is to add an antimicrobial agent and the other is countercurrent. Both methods have reverse flow. A first method of using antimicrobials has a backflow in which an antimicrobial source is used after a period of time, so that the microorganism is free to multiply within the filter and cause clogging of the filter. In this case, the filter must be replaced, which can be a problem in rural areas. In the case of the second method, when the microporous filter is backwashed, the substance of the proliferating microorganisms is installed unobstructed, but since the microorganisms are in the filtration housing which acts as a microorganism incubator which clogs more rapidly over time, Biofilm formation on the inner wall promotes proliferation and clogging. Furthermore, if ruptures occur in a microporous filter without an antimicrobial or in a filter with an antimicrobial, the release of water full of microorganisms can be fatal to the consumer. Therefore, safer and more feasible systems are required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, a general purpose is to improve conventional filters. An additional objective is to prevent or at least reduce the risk of microbial release from microorganisms propagating inside the filter if the microporous filter is ruptured.

This object is achieved by a fluid filtration device having a fluid passage between an inlet and an outlet through a microporous filter having a pore size suitable for filtering bacteria or bacteria and viruses from the fluid by fluid inlet and fluid outlet and mechanical particle size separation Wherein the apparatus further comprises an antimicrobial source for adding an antimicrobial material to the fluid in the fluid passageway between the fluid inlet and the inlet surface of the microporous filter, And has counter-clockwise means for pressing through the filter.
By providing an antimicrobial source and countercurrent capability, on the one hand, the antimicrobial release not only prevents membrane clogging but also damages the antimicrobial supply and, on the other hand, the backflow mechanism, especially the antimicrobial supply, Lt; / RTI > can be used when a < / RTI > In addition, biofilm formation on the inner wall of the device is also prevented, which has the advantage that backflow can not remove this biofilm. Prevention of the formation of a biofilm on the inner wall of the device also reduces the frequency of clogging of the microporous filter due to the generally smaller microorganisms that can breed inside the housing. An additional benefit is that membrane rupture does not pose a real risk to consumers. Thus, not only does the life of the filter increase, but it is also safe. This is very important because the filter is in a rural, tropical area with little access to replace the filter and because the entire family can rely on fresh water production of a relatively small, portable filter. Therefore, the present invention is particularly useful for small filters that have a long lifetime and high safety.

Typically, the microporous filter is provided in the form of a membrane or a plurality of membranes. Although it may seem that such a pore filter does not require an antimicrobial material, such as a halogen, for example, because the microbe is filtered by the pore, it is nevertheless said that the material can be used in a microporous filter or on a microporous filter, The filters have been significantly improved by the use of antimicrobial materials such as halogens because they prevent the growth of the biofilm, which contaminates the interior of the microporous filter, for example inside the filter membrane wall, at the inlet surface of the filter membrane. This is an advantage for many reasons.

By preventing the formation of a biofilm, the filtered particles at the upstream portion of the microporous filter or at the inlet surface of the microporous filter can be easily washed from the device. It has been experimentally proven that fluid pressures of 0.1 - 0.2 bar are sufficient to wash the particles from the filter according to the invention. In addition, the water pressure obtained from gravity-operated home filtration can be washed by flushing the filter. This shows a distinct difference from prior art filter cartridges, which require a rather high wash pressure through the filter to remove the sticky biofilm. Washing at a pressure of 0.2 bar is not strong enough, for example, to remove sticky biofilm in front of microfiltration or ultrafiltration membrane with holes in the hollow fibers.

Other advantages of eliminating biofilm formation are understood from the discussion below. When the porous membrane ruptures, the biofilm growth in the filter can develop into a microbial cluster with the ability to release large amounts of microorganisms to the end user. Moreover, inhibition of biofilm growth by halogen killing or antimicrobial killing of microorganisms or by simple prevention of microbial growth in filters reduces the risk of infection if the filter is broken.

An antimicrobial source, preferably a halogen source, is used in other prior art systems, where the halogen is used in the downstream portion of the membrane to inactivate microorganisms that slip through the membrane due to the porosity of the membrane, which is not small enough to separate particles of a corresponding size , It is in the upstream portion of a microporous filter, for example a filtration membrane.

Although the pore size is defined above to be formed to filter bacteria and viruses, it is within the scope of the present invention that other biological or non-biological materials can be filtered with the device according to the present invention. For example, the device according to the invention can be used to filter fungus, parasites, colloidal insecticides or chemicals, corrosive acids, aerosols and other fine particles from liquids or gases, for example air.

The term bacterial and viral filtration will be understood to refer to retention of the bacteria or virus by mechanical particle cleavage from, or entering, the microporous filtration media, so that pores can flow through the pores or through the pores It has a smaller size than microorganisms to prevent it. This distinguishes NanoCeram® from commercially available NanoCeram®, where the particles bind to the nanosized alumina particles inside the filter media due to electrical charge.

The fluid passageway is defined as the path from the inlet through the filter to the outlet.

It is to be understood that the singular forms "a "," an "and" the "in the claims and the detailed description are not intended to limit the invention to a single device, but are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The above-mentioned halogen source may be a halogenated liquid or gas provided from a reservoir at a suitable rate of fluid passing through the apparatus. Alternatively, the halogen source can be, for example, a solid medium in the form of tablets or granules, which is dissolved at a suitable rate in the flow path. Among suitable candidate substances, those relating to the present invention are tablets having a high trichloroisocyanic acid content (TCCA). Preferably, the TCCA tablets have slow dissolution characteristics that cause low elution of the halogen. Alternatively, the TCCA tablets with high elution characteristics can be installed in a rigid, pore refining chamber, where only some of the inflow passes through the purification chamber while the influx bypasses most of the TCCA purification chambers. This will cause a dilution of the halogenated influent, which is in contact with the TCCA tablet, by the residual influent, bypassing the TCCA purification. Optionally, the halogen source is provided with a halogenated resin located in the passage between the inlet and the microporous filter. The concentration of halogen, for example iodine, may be low dissolution. The growth of the biofilm progressively progresses over time, and the filter stored between intermittent uses has biofilm growth during storage time due to the residual fluid in the filter. In order to prevent biofilm growth, the release of antimicrobial material is sufficient at low rates, since the content of antimicrobial material in the fluid steadily increases during storage.

In general, it is recognized that microbial filtration does not filter all microbes, but only a certain degree of microbes, which is a log of the ratio between the level of contaminants in the inlet fluid and the level of contaminants in the outlet fluid of the filter lO Quot; log reduction ", which refers to < / RTI > For example, log 4 reduction in pollutant corresponds to a 99.99% decrease in pollutant, but log 5 decrease in pollutant corresponds to 99.999% decrease.

The term "suitable for filtering bacterial or bacterial and viral by mechanical particle size separation" in connection with the filtration apparatus according to the present invention means that the microorganism according to a predetermined reduction value, for example the aforementioned log 4 or log 5 reduction . In this regard, the highly effective virus strain may be highly effective against bacteria due to their large size, so the decrease in bacterial count may be different from the decrease in the virus.

Thus, if a design flow is provided through the device to the fluid filtration device, where the design flow is defined as the level of flow required to ensure proper filtration of the fluid flowing through the device into the fluid being cleaned at the fluid outlet ), An antimicrobial source, preferably a halogen source, is supplied at a substantially lower rate than is necessary to reduce microbes in the fluid by log 4, or even log 3 or log 2, during the time it takes for the fluid to flow through the device in the design flow , An antimicrobial material such as a halogen may be released. The design flow can be based on the human suction force of the portable suction straw as an apparatus according to the present invention. In the case of a home gravity filter, the design flow depends on the height difference between the fluid inlet and the microporous filter and the pressure obtained by the resistance available in the microporous filter and other possible media in the device.

Other definitions of low-eluting antimicrobials are provided below. Also, in this case, assuming that a design flow through the device is provided to the fluid filtration device, the design flow is defined as the level of flow rate to ensure proper filtration of the fluid flowing through the device from the fluid outlet at the fluid outlet . However, in this case, the antimicrobial source, e. G., The halogen source, is formed to release the antimicrobial material at a rate that indicates the amount of antimicrobial in the fluid after microfiltration below a predetermined limit according to a predetermined health protocol. In other words, the amount and rate of release of the antimicrobial is chosen to be low, which does not violate a predetermined health protocol, for example the WHO protocol. Experiments can be kept low enough that the levels of antimicrobials, such as iodine or chlorine, do not violate the typical health protocol, although they are effective at preventing biofilm formation and adherence. This is due, for example, to the relatively long time of microbial antimicrobial activity during storage between intermittent orders of use.

For example, the ratio may be 1 ppm, 0.5 ppm, or 0.1 ppm to 0.01 ppm in the fluid, while the fluid is flowing through the device, to yield a relative content between 0.01 ppm and 1 ppm, , It can be adjusted to a concentration of about 0.1 ppm or less. In this regard, the target value may be 0.01 to 0.05 ppm, preferably about 0.02 ppm, when the device according to the invention is operated without iodine scavenger. If the killing of microorganisms is required for short contact times and residence times without the use of halogens and without the use of microporous filters, this contrasts with an iodine concentration of at least 4 ppm in the apparatus. With respect to chlorine, the concentration range and target value are from 5 to 10 factors, such as from 0.1 to 0.5 ppm, preferably about 0.25 ppm, than the yoyode.

It is well known that iodine resin yields high concentrations of iodine when the resin is newer than the resin that is the subject of long-term flow of fluid through the resin. With respect to the above-mentioned ranges and target values according to the present invention, this relates to the long-term value rather than the initial value of the resin.

In this case, if the resin or other source of halogen has a steeply high peak value for the halogen released during the first flow through the apparatus, this steep peak halogen concentration can be removed by the halogen scavenger after filtration. Optionally, the scavenger may be designed to be used as a peak value such that no scavenger remains at the moment the peak concentration drops and the resin or other source of halogen enters the apparently steady state halogen emission.

Halogen release from resins or other media, such as tablets, may depend on temperature, pH, flow rate, viscosity of the fluid and level of contamination. However, the influence of these parameters is not very important, since the rate of halogen release is not only very important for filtration properties, but also has the task of preventing biofilm growth. For low halogen concentrations, as mentioned above, the halogen source is a low eluting iodine resin.

A typical iodine source also causes a certain amount of iodide in the fluid.

The term "microporous" means micrometer and / or submicrometer range, e.g., pores within the range of 0.01-1 micrometer. Thus, the term does not limit the pore size of precision-filtration to micrometers, but rather to the pores that can be used in ultrafiltration to filter viruses.

Typically, the precision-filtration membrane (MF) has a porosity of about 0.1-0.3 microns and is capable of filtering bacteria, parasites and inorganic particles larger than pores. Typically, the ultrafiltration membrane (UF) has a porosity of about 0.01-0.04 microns and can filter bacteria, parasites and large inorganic particles larger than pores and viruses. MF membranes usually have higher flux than UF membranes. The number-based porosity relates to the well-known test method of this kind of filter, called bubble point measurement, which also relates to numbers as mentioned above in connection with the present invention.

The microporous membrane can be made with various porosities for particle size separation so as to be tubular or sheet-like. For filtration of microporous bacteria, micropores having a size of 0.1 micrometer to 0.3 micrometer can be applied, but in order to filter viruses, smaller pore sizes, for example pores in the range of 0.01 to 0.04 micrometers, do.

When used to filter bacteria, the preferred microporous filter apparatus according to the present invention has a porosity of about 0.1 micrometer, for example 0.05 to 0.15 micrometer.

Typically, in the United States, according to the EPA protocol, a filter is tested to yield a filtration of log 4 for the bacteriophage MS2 virus with a size of 20 nm - 30 nm.

However, among viruses that are dangerous to humans and typically present in tap water in tropical regions, only polio viruses have this small size. Other viruses that are harmful to humans are typically larger, such as rotavirus with a size of about 70 nm. As poliovirus is very rare on earth, it will suffice to have a logarithmic decrease in viruses with sizes greater than 50 nm in many cases.

There is a commercially available UF membrane that delivers the proper flow at low working pressure. From Prime Water International®, an ultrafiltered single-hole hollow-cap membrane having a porosity of 0.02 micrometers is available and has a clean water flux of ~ 1000 liters / hxm ² x bar based on single hole flow measurements, h is the time, m is ² square meters of surface area, and the bar represents the pressure. Another candidate material for the microporous filter associated with the present invention is commercially available from INGE AG® as an ultrafiltered 7-hole hollow tube membrane with a flow rate of 700 liters / hxm ² x bar. For example, a filter module having a size of ~ 30 mm diameter x 250 mm length (with respect to size as commercially available Lifestraw®) may have a diameter of 0.08 to 0.3 m ² , depending on the outer diameter of the filter housing and the number of fibers, 0.08 to 0.15 m < ² > and an active membrane surface area (mean 0.20 m < ² >).

Also, the use of a filter according to the invention, sometimes referred to as a siphon filter, which is also sometimes referred to as a siphon filter, results in a cartridge with a 0.1 m ² membrane area providing a theoretical flow of about 10 liters per hour .

Another possible class of microporous filters for the present invention may be ceramic. For example, such a membrane may be in the form of one or more sheets, the latter being loaded to provide a large filtration surface.

 In order to eliminate the taste and odor of any upstream portion from which halogens are released, the filter according to the invention is possibly provided with a halogen absorbent before the fluid outlet. Some of the above halogen absorbers, such as iodine scavengers, are commercially available. One possible candidate is, for example, granular form (GAC) or activated carbon contained in fibers and potentially enriched silver.

Another possible halogen absorber in the case of iodine as a halogen is Dow Marathon A® or Iodosorb®. However, ideally, the elution of the halogenated medium is so low as to inhibit only the production of the biological film, but it is not required that the concentration be reduced before any halogen absorption system is absorbed by the person. For example, a CDC (Center for Disease Control, Atlanta, USA) recommends a maximum daily iodine intake of 0.01 mg / day in permanent consumption for 0-3 month old children. Based on an estimated water requirement of 0.5 liters / day at this age, the maximum iodine concentration in the intake should not be higher than 0.02 mg / l. Thus, ideally, not more than 0.02 mg of iodine is eluted per liter of the source.

Optionally, the filtration device according to the present invention may also be used in an electrochemical system for attracting ultrafiltration or microfiltration media, such as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,838,005, And a filtration step.

In the case of membranes in the form of microporous membranes or hollow fibers / tubing, the fluid passageways may be arranged from the interior of the fibers to the exterior of the fibers. Optionally, a halogen absorbing material can be provided between the hollow fibers, and this arrangement saves the overall space of the entire filtration apparatus according to the invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises a housing or cartridge having an inlet and an outlet containing a microporous filter and a halogen source. The cartridge may be disposable and may be included in a re-usable housing. Optionally, the apparatus comprises a housing having a rechargeable or exchangeable halogenated resin separated from the microporous filter.

The housing with the hollow fibers is advantageously assembled in a so-called forward flush arrangement. During use of the filtration apparatus according to the present invention, filtered bacteria and viruses and other particles will flocculate into the filter and may cause a reduced filtration over time. Depending on the amount of turbidity by the inorganic needle and the amount of organic contaminants (bacteria, viruses and parasites) as well as other organic particles such as corrosive acids, the flow rate can drop very quickly during use, as the pores are clogged. The membrane should then be cleaned or replaced to restore performance. To regenerate the filter, a forward flushing mechanism may be included in the device according to the invention. In practice, the flushing mechanism may be established by providing a second flow path through the microporous filter along the wall of the porosity filter from the fluid inlet to the second outlet, but not through the wall of the porosity filter, A valve system for flushing an object during a valve state is provided.

The filter membrane is preferably a hydrophilic porous polymer membrane. Commonly used polymers are polyethersulfone (PES), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) or polyacrylonitrile (PAN).

In further embodiments, the shape of such a membrane is preferably a hollow fiber tube, but may optionally be a flat VUD membrane. The hollow fibers may have a single hole structure or a multi-hole structure (e.g., 7-hole). Single-hole fibers are commercially available from companies such as Prime Water International (BE) or X-Flow (NL); 7-hole fibers are commercially available from companies such as IMT® (NL) or INGE® (DE). In the case of the device according to the invention, the IN-OUT filter flow is preferred because it ensures that it removes filtration debris with more concentrated water.

In the case of a filter, in particular a gravity filter, in order for the device to have a storage facility, the device may have a fluid storage container between the microporous filter and the fluid outlet. An internal antimicrobial surface can be provided to the fluid storage container so that it does not carry the risk of microbial propagation. Alternatively or additionally, a contaminated water storage vessel may also be connected to the inlet.

The application of the present invention has unlimited possibilities due to its general nature. For example, the present invention can be used for portable water filtration devices. For example, such a hand-held filtration device may have a diameter of from about 3 centimeters to about 6 centimeters, for example about 3 centimeters, and a diameter of from about 10 centimeters to about 40 centimeters, for example about 25 centimeters, as is known in a commercially available water filter LifeStraw®. Beverage straw having a length. Such beverage straws are particularly suited to assist in the provision of emergency equipment and water in rural areas, as well as camping, hiking and military purposes.

Another application is in the form of gravity filters, in which water or other liquid is poured into the first vessel and flows through the strainer into a second vessel arranged at a lower level so that gravity falls into the fluid passing through the filter. The force on the liquid for flow through the filter depends on the height of the liquid level in the first container relative to the liquid filter. If the liquid is water and the water level exceeds 2 meters of the filter, the pressure is 0.2 bar. By way of example, the height may be chosen to be 0.02 for water and 0.2 to 2 meters corresponding to a pressure of 0.2 bar. Using this principle, it has been easy to maintain a home filter for a new world, long lasting, cost-effective. The filter operates only with gravity, without an artificial pressure device such as a pump.

In a preferred embodiment, the microporous filter hosts about 0.1-0.3 m ² membrane surface area. In addition, the filter can provide about 10 liters per hour at a fluid inlet pressure of 0.1 bar. This is an experimentally proven parameter value. In a more densely packed membrane, the filter area of a home or portable filter can be about three to ten times larger. In particular, when the filter device according to the invention is used for a larger water volume, for example by installing a large device in or on the roof of the house, the membrane surface area can be larger than mentioned above.

The filter according to the invention is primarily concerned with the manufacture of beverage products, but water or other liquids can also be cleaned for other purposes, for example industrial, medical or scientific purposes.

In certain embodiments, iodine or chlorine may be arranged in the chamber of the halogenated medium, for example, in the upstream portion of the filter membrane. The medium has low dissolution characteristics, which means that the water is not intended to kill microorganisms directly during the relatively short contact time while flowing through the filter. Instead, small doses of halogenated elements flow permanently into the "filter cake", but it is not required to kill the microorganisms over time and prevent biofilm formation if possible.

The advantages of using low-elution dosage halogenated resins for high-dose resins are as follows. First, the low-elution halogenated resin lasts longer than the high-elution resin with the same halogen content. Because of the low dosage, the use of halogen scavengers can be avoided without giving the consumer any substantial health effects by the halogen. Even if a halogen scavenger is used, the requirements for the scavenging characteristics are low. In addition, low dosages reduce the amount of resin and scavenger, thereby reducing the size, weight and cost of the filtration apparatus according to the present invention compared to conventional apparatus.

In order to prevent microbes from propagating in the filter, when some microorganisms enter the membrane, the membrane material may comprise an antimicrobial material, for example, which binds to the material itself. Some examples of materials are AEGIS Microbe Shield ® or Colloidal Silver.

In a specific embodiment, the fluid filtration device according to the present invention comprises a housing within which a microporous filter is provided. The housing may have an inner wall that emits an antimicrobial. The antimicrobial coating prevents biofilm formation on the inner wall surface of the housing.

A number of coatings are available. Examples of antibacterial organosilane coatings are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,762,172, 6,632,805, 6,469,120, 6,120,587, 5,959,014, 5,954,869, 6,113,815, 6,712,121, 6,528,472, and 4,282,366 .

Another possibility is, for example, an antibacterial coating containing silver in the form of a colloidal silver. Colloidal silver containing silver nanoparticles (lnm to lOOnm) can be suspended in this matrix. For example, silver colloids can be released from materials such as zeolites, which have an open porosity structure. Silver can also be embedded in the same matrix as the polymer surface film. Alternatively, it can be embedded in a matrix of the entire polymer during a plastic forming process, typically injection molding, extrusion or blow molding.

Silver containing ceramics, which can be used in the present invention, is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,924,325 to Qian. Silver for water treatment is disclosed in US Pat. No. 6,827,874 to Souter et al., US Pat. No. 6,551,609 to King, which is generally known to use silver-reinforced granular carbon for water purification. Silver coatings for water tanks are disclosed in European patent application EP 1647527.

Other antimicrobial metals that may be used in connection with the present invention are copper and zinc, which may optionally or additionally be combined with an antimicrobial coating. Antimicrobial coatings containing silver and other metals are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,906,466 to Edwards and references therein.

Additionally or alternatively, the coating may comprise titanium dioxide. Titanium dioxide can be applied as a thin film synthesized by a sol-gel process. Anatase TiO ₂ is a photocatalyst, and thin film films using titanium dioxide are useful for external surfaces exposed to UV and ambient light. In addition, nanocrystals of titanium dioxide can be embedded within the polymer. Furthermore, silver nanoparticles can form complexes with titanium dioxide to improve efficiency.

For example, a thin film coating can have a thickness as small as several micrometers. Additionally or alternatively, the coating may comprise a reactive silane quaternary ammonium compound, as is known from the company AEGIS® under the trademark Microbe Shield ™ used for air conditioning. When applied to a material as a liquid, the active ingredient in AEGIS® Antibacteria forms a colorless, odorless, positively charged polymer that is chemically bound and can be visually removed from the treated surface.

From the inner wall, the release of the antimicrobial can only provide a degree of protection of the microorganism from the wall surface and prevent biofilm formation, but also provides a fluid having sufficient antibacterial activity in the microporous filter or to prevent microporous filter biofilm formation And the release of the antimicrobial agent in a sufficient ratio to provide the antimicrobial agent.

In this regard, the following information is important. If a filter of the type of the present invention is used in a rural area as a water filter for a family, the filter is used repeatedly only for a short time interval. Water typically comes out of or near water holes and then is filtered. This happens several times a day but for a short time. This means that the filter will not flow in most cases. In the case where the surface of the inner wall is provided with an antibacterial agent, the release of the antibacterial agent does not require the water passing through the filter to be provided with a certain dose of the antibacterial agent. It is sufficient that the amount of the antibacterial substance is released in a sufficient ratio to prevent biofilm formation between the elapse of time between filtration. Furthermore, by taking this filtration tendency into consideration, even low release of the antibacterial agent emitted from the inner wall of the housing is sufficient to prevent contamination and biofilm formation. Only the requirement of low dissolution facilitates the provision of an antimicrobial housing that lasts a long time.

The release of the antimicrobial from the inner wall of the housing can be caused by a surface coating of the inner surface, for example a surface coating releasing silver, as described above. The substitute is an inner wall having a surface from which the antimicrobial can move from inside the wall, for example due to antibacterial bonding to the substance on the wall surface or due to the antibacterial action which can be provided in the reservoir behind the wall and through the wall to the fluid in the housing . The inner wall of the housing may also be formed as a part of the laminate containing the reservoir.

The term housing also refers to a multi-housing and a tube between these multiple housings, as well as multiple vessels and apparatuses according to the invention joined together.

As mentioned above, during use of the device according to the invention, the microorganisms accumulate in the fluid upstream portion of the microporous filter. These microorganisms can be released and washed by tangential flow along the microporous filter. The first part of the flushing fluid discharged from the device contains most of the microorganisms and is harmful when consumed. Preferably, as a warning, as indicated, the first outlet for the cleaning fluid has a first marking and the second outlet for the flushing fluid has a different color, differently than the second marking, for example, the first marking I have.

Alternatively or additionally, the flushing fluid itself can be distinguished, for example, by color, taste and / or odor. In addition, in a further embodiment, the chamber is provided at an upstream portion of the second outlet. The chamber accumulates a volume of fluid from the inlet and allows the user to open the valve for discharge of the fluid from the second outlet and to provide a fluid to the fluid to provide a specific color to the volume of fluid when the discharged first fluid is fluid from the chamber. The marking material is added to this portion of the substrate. The volume of this fluid is colored, for example, green or red, indicating to the user that this fluid has not been consumed. In addition to or in addition to the color, the fluid is provided with a substance which imparts a certain taste, for example a bitter taste and / or a particular odor, for example a foul smell, to the fluid. In order to separate the volume of the chamber from the fluid flowing across the filter, the chamber includes a one-way valve that separates the chamber from the microporous filter in further embodiments.

During forward water washing, the fluid enters through the fluid inlet, flows along the surface of the microporous filter, leaves the device through the second fluid outlet after traversing the chamber, which is the upstream portion of the second outlet. When the second outlet is closed again, the chamber is filled with fresh fluid filled with the marking material. The marking material can be provided in small quantities and is also gradually produced in the fluid of the chamber until the next forward water wash. The volume of the chamber may be as small as necessary to warn the user as soon as the second outlet opens. This indicates that the source of color, odor or taste is a slowly dissolving tablet provided in a small source, for example, a chamber.

Preferably, the first fluid outlet is closed for the forward water wash, even though this is not strictly necessary.

It is advantageous if the microporous filter is subjected to some reciprocal longitudinal treatment before or during forward washing. The reciprocal wash is performed in the opposite direction through the microporous filter by, for example, compressing the cleaning fluid for some time between forward water wash. In a further embodiment, the apparatus has a reciprocal vessel connected to the outlet side of the microporous filter for inversion of the cleaning fluid through the microporous filter from the reciprocating vessel.

Specifically, in order for the house to accommodate a filter or a portable filter, the reciprocating container is advantageously a passively activated bellows, connected in the form of, for example, a squeeze pump downstream of the microporous filter. By manually biasing the bellows together, the cleaning fluid accumulated in the bellows is pushed back into the microporous filter to clean the countercurrent filter. Microbes and other microbial particles are pressed into the volume upstream portion of the microporous filter. From this upstream partial volume, the particles are then removed by forward washing.

The reciprocal vessel, for example the bellows, is connected to the microporous filter in a dead end structure of a specific embodiment, which has a separate connection with the downstream portion of the microporous filter as compared to the first outlet .

In certain cases, the device according to the invention has a unique orientation for proper use. For example, the device according to the invention is a water filter and has a tubular housing around the microporous filter, and the proper use of the device can mean a vertical arrangement of the housing. If the first outlet is at the bottom of the housing and the reciprocating container is connected to the top of the housing, there is a risk that the air will enter the reciprocal container instead of the wash water so that proper recoil is not possible. In addition, it is advantageous because, if the reciprocating container is located below the first outlet, the water level for flushing the water passing through the first outlet will fill the container.

Optionally, the reciprocating vessel may be part of a tube connecting a microporous filter having a first outlet. In this case, the cleaning fluid flows through the vessel, e.g., the bellows, to leave the first outlet. Moreover, the bellows will at least partially be easily filled with a cleaning fluid.

In a specific embodiment, the housing is a tube having a side dimension of less than 6 cm, and by applying pressure to the bellows and by gripping the periphery of the housing, the bellows is provided outside the housing for manual activation. During each time, the housing is grabbed by the human, and the reciprocal is activated by removing microorganisms from the pores of the filter.

In a specific embodiment, an apparatus according to the present invention is a portable filter having a mouthpiece connected to a housing and a first fluid outlet formed for contact with a human mouth. If a portion of the mouthpiece or portion of the mouthpiece that is fed for contact with the mouth of a person swallowing has an antimicrobial material, the person's bacteria from the mouthpiece can be contacted with a second person The city is killed. In this case, the invention is particularly suited to compact water purification devices having dimensions as commercial products of the registered trademark LifeStraw (R).

Generally, if the housing or at least a portion of the housing of the device according to the invention, preferably a part of the housing formed for the hand in contact with the housing, has an antibacterial surface, the bacteria or other microorganisms of the person holding the housing It is killed on contact so that the second person is not infected by microorganisms on the housing. Also, even if the filter is stored in an unsanitary location, it is not a bacterial breeding place.

In another embodiment mentioned above, the device according to the invention is applied as a mouthpiece-free home filter formed for contact with a human mouth.

The fluid filtration device according to the present invention suggests the possibility of various implementations as it appears from the above. For example, it may be formed of a modular device with several modules or a non-modular device made, for example, in one piece. In addition, as described above, the device according to the present invention may comprise a granular resin, for example, some kind of granular resin or water to purify only one kind of granules. In some embodiments, the apparatus does not include a first module and a second module containing different water to purify the granular resin. Optionally, the device may have no granular resin at all. By having only one granule number or no granule resin, this would mean that there is no need for a separating means to prevent mixing of the resin, for example, a permeable mesh having a mesh size smaller than the crystal size of the resin. The fluid filtration device may have a mouthpiece formed to contact a human ' s mouth and may be manufactured without a mouthpiece. When a mouthpiece is used, the mouthpiece may have an antimicrobial surface, but they may also be provided without an antimicrobial mouthpiece. The housing may also be provided with an external or internal antimicrobial surface or without an internal or external antimicrobial surface or even without an antimicrobial surface.

- Carbon nanotube filter,

- dendritic polymers,

- Microsieve and nanosheve

A number of candidate materials for microporous filters or electro-active filters that can be used in connection with the present invention, including polyoxomelecarates, are found in the following references.

The device according to the present invention can be composed of various antimicrobial sources as described above. For example, an apparatus according to the present invention may use a halogenated resin provided in a passage between a fluid inlet and a microporous filter as an antimicrobial source for the flow of fluid through a resin chamber. The halogenated resin may be a granular resin. However, because halogenated resins are relatively expensive antimicrobials, antimicrobial agents may be used generally without granular halogenated resins or without halogenated resins. Indeed, as described above, many other antibacterial materials can be used, for example, halogenated tablets without halogenated resins. As a further alternative, the filter media or the whole device may also be free of antimicrobial resin.

In some embodiments, the fluid filtration apparatus according to the present invention may not be in the form of a tube housing having a width of less than 80 mm and a length of less than 50 cm. In some embodiments, the fluid filtration device according to the present invention may be free of a mouthpiece for ingesting water through the device. In some embodiments, it has a mouthpiece, but the mouthpiece may not have an antimicrobial surface. In some embodiments, it may have a mouthpiece and a housing and those without an antimicrobial surface. In some embodiments, the device may be free of at least a first module and a second module containing different water purifying granular resin, wherein the first module has a first connector and the second module has a second connector The first and second connectors being tubing and connected to limit the flow of water through the first and second modules. In some embodiments, the apparatus may not have a first module or a second module, or at least one water-permeable mesh having a mesh size smaller than the crystal size of the resin to prevent mixing of the resin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the following drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates the principles of the present invention,

Figure 2 illustrates the principle of washing,

Figure 3 shows a stacked film arrangement,

Fig. 4 shows a jig-re-agglomerated film arrangement,

Figure 5 shows a hollow fiber arrangement having a halogen absorbent between fibers,

Figure 6 illustrates a hollow fiber array having a storage vessel,

Figure 7 illustrates a gravity filter,

Figure 8 illustrates a container of gravity fibers in detail,

Figure 9 is a capillary filter with reciprocal option,

10 is a sheet membrane filter with reciprocal option,
Figure 11 is a reproduced image of a conventional tabletop system with reciprocal number.

Detailed Description / Preferred Embodiment

Figure 1 illustrates the principles of the present invention. The fluid filtration device (1) has a fluid inlet (2) and a fluid outlet (3). The fluid is preferably a liquid, but the invention is of a general nature and gas, aerosol or vapor may also be used. The downstream portion of the fluid inlet 2 is the chamber 4 in which the antimicrobial material 5, preferably halogen, is provided. The source can be a halogenated liquid or gas that can be provided in a suitable ratio to the fluid through the device. However, the fluid flows in the direction indicated by the arrow 7 and a halogenated resin is preferred. After the step of adding halogen to the fluid, the fluid traverses the microporous filter 8, preferably the membrane, before the fluid leaves the device through the fluid outlet 3. Optionally, the apparatus 1 also has a halogen absorbing material 9 in the third chamber 10. Materials 11 such as bacteria, viruses, and other materials are retained at the microporous inlet surface of the wall 12 of the membrane 8. In a vertical configuration, the device may be subjected to the principle of gravity as illustrated in Fig.

A chamber 4 with an antimicrobial material 5, preferably a halogenated source, for example a resin or a tablet, can be integrated with the housing 1 or can be integrated with the housing 1, for example, It may be a chamber that is removable from the remaining portion of the housing 1 to replace the chamber 4 with a module. When the present invention is used as a drinking straw similar to the commercial product LifeStraw®, a mouthpiece may be provided at the first outlet 3.

In Figure 2, the basic principle of an apparatus according to the invention including a forward flushing mechanism is illustrated. The device (1) comprises a first fluid outlet (3) for discharging the filtered liquid. The first fluid outlet (3) may optionally be provided with a valve for regulating the flow through the outlet (3). In addition, the device 1 comprises a second fluid outlet 13 having a valve 14 that can be opened for watering situations, wherein the flushing fluid is supplied to the membrane surface (not shown) to absorb the filtered foreign matter 11 15). If a valve is provided in the first fluid outlet 3, the valve can be sealed in a watertight situation.

In Fig. 3, the laminated flat film structure is shown in a cross-sectional view. Membrane 8 may be made of ceramic type or microporous polymer membrane type. The water flows into the microporous filter between the inlet walls of the adjacent membrane (8) and flows out of the microporous filter and into the volume (6) between the outlet walls of the adjacent membrane (8). The membrane 8 is tightly fitted in the peripheral seal so that the flow of water from the inlet to the outlet is only possible through the membrane 8. On the volume 6 between the outlet wall surfaces of the adjacent films 8, a halogen absorbing material, for example an iodine decoloring resin, can be arranged. The laminated film structure can be part of the washable device principle, an example of which is illustrated in Fig. Alternatively, although not shown, the laminated film can be bent. As a further alternative, a pair of helical membranes may be provided.

In Fig. 4, another laminated film structure is shown, wherein the film 8 forms a jig-zag pattern. This may be convenient in the case of a foldable microporous membrane (8) that folds into a harmonica form before the membrane is installed in the housing. The jig-jag laminated film structure can be part of the washable device principle, an example of which is illustrated in Fig.

In Fig. 5A, the hollow fibers 16 are shown to be merged. A number of hollow fibers 16 are arranged in the housing 14 and the fluid 7 can flow through the chamber 5 with an antibacterial, for example halogenated, resin 5, Can flow along the fibers 16 before flowing through the wall and can flow out of the filter through spaces between the fibers 16. A halogen absorbing material 9 may be provided in the space between the fibers 16, optionally to absorb the residual halogen from the fluid before being discharged from the filtration device 1. The antimicrobial material 5, for example a halogenated resin, may be contained in the rechargeable chamber 4, as illustrated. The passage of the hollow fibers 16 through them means that their ends are not sealed. When valve 14 is opened, fluid will seek the easiest possible way of exiting through valve 14, as illustrated in Figure 5B. Biomaterials and other materials retained in the fibers will be washed out of the fibers 16 by the flow of fluid.

Figures 6A and 6B illustrate a principle similar to that of Figure 5. However, the reservoir 17 surrounds the membrane to take water or other, filtered fluid before it is released for consumption. Storage vessels are particularly useful in the case of gravity filters, where water can flow through a considerable time filter before consumption. For example, water can flow through the filter at night and can be collected in a storage container for consumption the next day.

In one embodiment, the storage vessel 17 is arranged around the tubular housing 40 and is made of a flexible material. By holding the container 40 around the housing 40, pressure is applied to the container. At the same time, if the first outlet 3 is closed, the cleaning fluid in the vessel 17 will be forced back into the space between the fibers 16 and a counter-rotation will be performed through the fiber wall. The reciprocal count will be such that particles and microorganisms will be removed from the inside of the fibers 16 after the microbes and particles have been washed through the open valve 14, as illustrated in FIG.

Figure 7 illustrates a gravity filter 20 having a supply vessel 21 for supplying water to a filtration device 22 arranged at low water level. A handle (23) is provided in the container (21) to facilitate transport of the container (21). The lower portion of the container 21 comprises a chamber 24 having an antimicrobial material, preferably a low-elution halogenated source chamber 24, for example, a chlorinated tablet. Optionally, the vessel 21 may contain an alternative or washable pretreatment filter for filtering larger particles from the water.

The halogenated source chamber (24) of the vessel (21) is connected to the filtration device (22) by means of a flexible pipe (25). The filtration device 22 comprises, for example, a porous hollow fiber unit of forward water wash structure having a maximum pore size of 0.04 micrometer or 0.02 micrometer. The filtration device 22 also includes a water washout outlet 28 having a flushing valve 29 that can be opened to flush the object away from the flushing water outlet 26 having a valve 27.

8 shows the supply container 21 in more detail. A pretreatment-filter insert 30 having a fluid inlet at its upper end is dismountably inserted into the vessel 21. A cylindrical replacement filter that is located in the pretreatment-filter insert 30 is not shown. A hole (31) is provided in the container (21) to engage the container (21) in a hook or nail on the wall surface. The handle (23) of the container (21) has a U-shaped cross-section for the interlocking insertion of the filtration device (22) to facilitate transport and storage.

Figure 9 illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention. The microporous filter 1 comprises a plurality of microporous capillaries 16 through which water or other fluid enters through the fluid inlet 2. Water may flow through the capillary 16 to the bottom outlet chamber 45 and through the valve 14 in the second fluid outlet 13 in the case of forward flushing. When the valve 14 at the second outlet 13 is closed, the pressure acting on the water causes water to flow through the capillary wall surface 43 into the space 44 between the capillaries. Water can also be discharged from the space 44 through the first outlet 3 with the valve 46 for consumption. In addition, the filtration device 1 has a container 42 for receiving washing water. Because the vessel 42 is located lower than the first outlet 3, it is filled with washing water before the water is discharged through the first outlet 3. The container 42 is made of a compressible material, for example a polymer bellows which can be manually compressed. When the first outlet is sealed by the valve 46, pressure is applied to the vessel 42 and the pressure causes water to flow from the vessel back to the capillary 16 through the capillary wall 43. This inversions push the microorganisms and other particles out of the capillary pores and cause them to fall off the inner surface of the capillary 16. Continuous or simultaneous forward flushing through the second outlet 13 removes microorganisms and particles from the filtration device 1.

The outlet chamber 45 between the open outlet end 48 of the capillary tube 16 and the second outlet 13 is provided with a curved wall surface 49, Shaped wall surface. The advantage of this wall surface is to provide adequate flow for the capillaries located close to the housing 40 without substantial turbulence. This is in contrast to a conventional flat tip cap that limits flow through the outermost capillary and provides undesirable non-uniform flow, especially in forward flush situations. Likewise, to provide adequate flow to the outermost capillary, the inlet chamber 47 is provided with a curved chamber wall surface 49 '.

Optionally, the outlet chamber 45 may be scoped to a one-way valve 10, which preferably allows water to enter the outlet chamber 45 from the capillary 16, have. In the forward water wash situation, the outlet chamber 45 is filled with unfiltered water from the capillary. When the outlet valve 14 is closed, the water is stored in the outlet chamber 45. This water slowly dissolves the tablet 51, which colors the water in the outlet chamber 45, until the next forward water wash. In the next forward water wash, the first part of the discharged water has a specific color and informs the consumer that this water has not been consumed. On the other hand, a colored agent combined with the granular material, the coating on the inner surface of the exit chamber, or the wall material of the exit chamber for moving to the inner surface of the wall surface of the exit chamber may be used. Further, the coloring agent may be replaced or supplemented with a taste-providing agent and / or an odor-imparting agent. The one way valve 50 prevents the added color, odor, or taste imparting agent from reaching the capillary 16 and the liquid at the first end.

An alternative implementation is illustrated in FIG. The liquid enters the first chamber 5 'from the upper fluid inlet 2 and the antimicrobial material is released into the liquid and enters the inlet chamber 47 through the filter or membrane 57. The antimicrobial material may be halogen, preferably iodine or chlorine, from a source in the first chamber 5 '. From the inlet chamber 47, liquid enters the outlet chamber 45 through the unidirectional valve 50, similar to the embodiment described in Fig. When the second outlet valve 14 is sealed, liquid flows through the microporous membrane 52, for example a ceramic membrane, to the outlet reservoir 53 and is discharged through the outlet 3 for consumption. Also in this case, the vessel 42 is used for inversion through the microporous membrane 52. The outlet chamber is separated from the outlet reservoir 53 by a fluid-tight wall section 56. In addition, the outlet reservoir 53 may contain a halogen scavenger.

Alternatively or additionally, by being discharged from the wall surface 55 of the inlet chamber into the first chamber 5 ', for example by coating the inner wall of the housing 40 or by coating the wall surface material of the housing 40 The antimicrobial material can be added to the liquid in the inlet chamber 47 by movably coupling the antimicrobial material to the inlet chamber 47. [ As an additional alternative, or additionally, an antimicrobial agent may be added to the liquid in the inlet chamber 47 through the wall surface 55 'of the inlet chamber by movement of the substance from the reservoir 54. The release of the antimicrobial material from the inner walls 55 and 55 'prevents microbial viability and the formation of biofilm on the surfaces of the wall surfaces 55 and 55', but prevents formation of biofilm inside the microporous filter 52 The release of the antimicrobial material in a sufficient ratio to provide a fluid having sufficient antimicrobial activity.

Claims (63)

A microporous membrane having a pore size in the range of 0.01 to 1 micrometer suitable for filtering microorganisms from a fluid by mechanical particle size separation which causes the bacteria or virus to be retained from crossing the fluid inlet and fluid outlet and the microporous filtration media A fluid filtration device having a fluid passageway between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet through a filter, the device further comprising a source of an antimicrobial material configured for addition of an antimicrobial material to the fluid in the fluid passageway between the fluid inlet and the microporous filter Said device having a second fluid passage from the fluid inlet to the porous filter wall, but not from the porous filter wall, to the second outlet, said second outlet being provided with a valve for forward- Wherein the apparatus comprises a reciprocating container From the order of the inverse of the three cleaning fluid through the microporous filter has an inverse three container connected downstream of the microporous filter, the apparatus being of the gravity the liquid filter operating at a pressure between 0.01 and 0.2 bar device. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the source of antimicrobial material comprises a source of halogen and the antimicrobial material comprises halogen. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microporous filter comprises a micro-filtration membrane. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the micro-filtration membrane has a porosity of 0.05 to 0.4 micrometers. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microporous filter comprises an ultrafiltration membrane having pores having a porosity of less than 0.04 micrometers. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the ultrafiltration membrane has a porosity between 0.01 and 0.04 micrometers. 7. The microporous filter according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the microporous filter comprises a plurality of hollow, microporous polymeric fibers with a hydrophilic polymer wall, and a microporous membrane of the fibers separating the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet And a flow passage through the wall. 7. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the apparatus comprises a halogen abatement agent between the microporous wall of the microporous filter and the fluid outlet. 7. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the device comprises a housing or cartridge having an inlet and an outlet and comprising a microporous filter and a halogen source, the cartridge being contained in a disposable, reusable housing Device. 7. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus has a second flow path from the fluid inlet to the second outlet along the porous filter wall, but not through the porous filter wall, Wherein the valve is provided with a valve for forward flushing purposes. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus has a reciprocating vessel connected downstream of the microporous filter for inversion of the cleaning fluid through the microporous filter from the reciprocating vessel. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the reciprocating vessel is a bellows that is passively activated. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the reciprocating vessel is connected to the microporous filter in a terminated configuration. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the reciprocating vessel is located below the fluid outlet. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus comprises a housing, the housing having a diameter less than 6 cm, the bellows being adapted to grip the periphery of the housing and to move along the outside of the housing for passive activation by applying pressure to the bellows. Lt; / RTI > 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the bellows are part of a tube connecting a microporous filter having a fluid outlet. 7. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the device has a fluid storage container between the microporous filter and the fluid outlet, the fluid storage container having an antimicrobial surface therein. 7. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the device is a portable device. 7. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the device is a beverage straw having a mouthpiece for contacting a human ' s mouth. delete delete 7. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the microporous filter hosts a membrane surface area of 0.01 to 0.5 m ² . 7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the apparatus is configured to provide 6 to 10 liters of rinse at the fluid outlet per hour at an inlet pressure of 0.1 bar at the fluid inlet. 7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the fluid filtration device is provided with a design flow through the device, wherein the source of antimicrobial material is located in a fluid flowing through the device in a design flow, Wherein the antimicrobial material is configured to release antimicrobial material at a rate adjusted to yield a concentration of less than 10 ppm if the antimicrobial material is chlorine. delete 25. The device of claim 24, wherein the ratio is adjusted to yield an amount of less than 0.1 ppm if the antimicrobial material is iodine and an amount of 0.1 to 0.5 ppm if the antimicrobial material flows through the device in a design flow, . delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete

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